Life is Greater Than Self

Kentucky Blue!

As I sit here writing this post I really am taken back with all God has done for me. It’s easy to say to God takes care of His own, but I have been truly able to witness that care first hand. After the last transplant a lot of things in our lives changed I went back to school only to be told I couldn’t do nursing, due to the fact that I was on so many medicines. Then I opened Salon Elegance which has been one of the greatest joys in my life. I can say that because of the precious girls and clients that I see everyday. I am very fortunate to go to a job that I love everyday. In the last 9 years since the last transplant our daughters Anna and Chloe are now 17 and 13. Life has moved in fast forward motion, they have kept us very busy. In the beginning of February of 2011 I started having stomach problems and thought it was my gall bladder. I went to the doctor in April to see my Nephrologist to see about having the gall bladder taken out. Upon doing that we had some blood work done and it came back and showed a little elevation in some of my numbers. We started watching them closely and at the end of May Anna and I went on a cruise with my sweet niece Sara and my sister-in-law Shelia for Sara’s graduation. We had a great time, but I knew my body was just not right. I still thought it was my gall bladder until we got home and I went to my Nephrologist. He put me in the hospital July 6th -11th for dehydration and to run some test. At that point we knew something was happening with the kidney. After a week in the hospital I was released and scheduled an appointment to see my Nephrologist at UAB on July 27th. They scheduled a kidney biopsy for Monday August 8th, and we went back for the results on the 11th. At this point I was put in the hospital from the 8th until 15th, which by the way was our 19th anniversary and we missed the girls first day back at school. I hated missing their first day especially because it was Anna’s first day of her senior year, but my sister came over to our house and took their picture. During this hospital stay the doctor tried several treatments to hold on to the kidney, but to no avail. I really felt like my doctor did all she could do and she really tried to save this kidney. I think I knew what was coming and from the beginning I have had a peace and so has Jason. On a visit to Birmingham on August 29th the doctor told me I was down to 15% kidney function and recommended I be evaluated for another transplant. We had some confusion with the scheduling of a doctor appointment that caused me not to be evaluated until October 24th. Jason was out-of-town in Utah and had to fly in to Birmingham where I picked him up at the airport the morning of my evaluation. It might sound crazy to some that Jason had left Salt lake City at 7:30 pm central time on the 23rd and did not make it to Birmingham until 8:00 am on the 24th, but that’s pretty normal for our family. I think I have said in other posts that we can’t do anything the easy way. Two weeks after I was evaluated the transplant coordinator called and told me I was added to the transplant list. Within a few days family and friends started asking for the phone number at UAB in order to be tested for a match. My pastor Derek was one among them, and after sending his blood sample to Birmingham he was called on December 1st and was told he was a match and they set his appointment for evaluation on December 15th. The days that followed seemed to go at a snails pace for me, because I just wanted it to happen so much. I have always tried to be calm in these situations, but this was really a trying time for me. As always GOD is faithful, and on December 22 nd UAB called and told Derek he was approved to give me a kidney. That evening he and Julie called and said they wanted to come by and see us after I got home from work. When they came in the house Derek handed me a rolled up present to open. Inside was a picture he had printed of a kidney, Derek himself colored the kidney KENTUCKY BLUE with a caption” one free kidney for Christmas”. I was speechless and will forever remember the sweet smile upon his face when I read that paper. Now we are at the point to where God gets to show us how He is in the business of doing miracles!! I am so excited to see just what else He will do, because for me He can never cease to amaze me. I love Him so!

jenn

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2 Responses

Word’s cannot express how much you and Jason and the girls mean to myself, Megan and Joseph !!! Know that we are praying for you and your family. I have always thought of you and Jason as my “older children” from the Leatherwood days, LOL. Megan and I also cannot thank you enough for singing “The Lord’s Prayer” accapella at her wedding July 2, 2011. She wanted so much a part of yall to be there since it was you and Jason that led her to know Jesus…. You are an awesome young lady and we love you and your family very much. Blessing and prayers to you all !!! Love , Reba Grissom, Megan Jones Pritchett and Joseph Jones.